Winsford United vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

1874 Northwich made a winning return to their former home winning 2-0 at the Barton Stadium in front of a crowd of 627 spectators, an attendance boosted by attendees of the League’s Groundhop weekend.

The victory over their former landlords maintained 1874’s seven point lead at the top of the NWCFL Premier Division table and extended their unbeaten league run to sixteen games.

After an initial feeling out process, 1874 started to gain the ascendancy with Jake Parker and Jack Tinning both going close with shots from outside the area mid way through the first half before captain Matt Woolley opened the scoring in the 25th minute.

With the referee waving play on amidst the home sides claims for hand ball the ball broke to Woolley who from thirty yards unleashed a thunderous drive which flew into the top corner of the net.

Winsford goalkeeper Scott Read produced two fine saves to deny Sam Hare and Mike Koral but was unable to prevent Lee Knight from doubling 1874’s lead in the 31st minute. Picking up the ball near the half way line his surging run into the heart of the Winsford defence left several opponents trailing in his wake before he drilled an angled shot out of Reeds reach into the bottom corner.

The second half descended into a somewhat scrappy affair on a boggy pitch in which neither side looked like scoring although Reed pulled off a couple of good saves and his 1874 counterpart Tony Aghayere saved smartly to keep out a late Sam Madeley effort.